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R&S
Perforated tape reader
CL-001 is a reader for perforated tape (German: Lochstreifenleser),
introduced around 1975 by
Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) in München (Germany).
It can be used to send pre-recorded data directly to a
teleprinter subscriber line or radio,
but can also be connected to a teleprinter or
cipher machine.
Alternatively, it can be used – after modification – as an 8-bit input device
for a computer.
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The device is housed in a bright grey enclosure that measures 112 × 225 × 300 mm
and weighs 6 kg. It is fitted on top of a
shock-absorbing base plate (shock mount)
that allows it to be mounted and used in a moving vehicle, ship
or airplane. Judging from the colour, it might have been produced for the
German Navy (Marine).
It is little known that R&S made teleprinter peripherals like this.
It it likely that it was part of a special project.
The highly complex interior reveals that it must have been expensive,
and that it was probably made in substantial quantities.
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The extremely low baudrates (25, 12.5 baud and possibly lower with the EXT setting)
suggest that the device was suitable for communication with the U-boats of the
German Navy (Marine). At present we have no further information about this device.
As the one in our collection is broken, we are looking for the circuit
diagram. We would also like to known where it was used and for what purpose.
If you have any information that can help us to enhance this page,
please contact us.
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The image below provides a quick overview of the features of the CL-001.
All controls and connections are at the front of the device. There are two
sockets at the front left. The lower one is for connection to the 220 V AC
mains, whilst the upper one (a 19-pin male connector) carries the interface
signals (in/out). The unit was found with appropriate cables for connection
to the mains and to a teleprinter. All controls and settings are located at
the right side of the front panel.
The actual tape reader head is located at the front and is bolted to the
front panel. It is an optical reader, which means
that – apart from the tape drive – there are no moving parts. Open the reader
by pressing the tape release button at the front. The hinged lid will
then tilt upwards. Next, place the tape in the tape path and close the lid.
Note that the tape runs from right to left, as indicated by the black arrow.
The device shown here, is configured for 5-channel tape, which is common for
teleprinters. It can be converted for 8-channel tape by removing the 5-bit ruler.
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This is the actual CL-001 tape reader.
The bare device measures 112 × 225 × 300 mm
and weighs little over 6 kg. The tape reader head is mounted at the front
of the device.
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For use in a moving vehicle, the CL-001 was usually fitted on the KS-007
shock mount shown in the image on the right. With the CL-001 fitted,
the external dimensions are 145 × 235 × 300 mm, whilst the total weight is
6754 grams.
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This cable is for powering the device from the 115 V or 220 V AC mains.
Note that the desired voltage must be set with a
switch inside the device,
prior to connecting it to the mains.
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The upper connector at the left side of the device is a male receptacle that
provides access to the interface. It allows a teleprinter to be looped through
the deviced. A switch at the front panel will select between teleprinter
and reader.
Note that the pinout of this connector is currently unknown, but that a
suitably wired cable with an ADo8
plug at the other end was supplied with the device featured here.
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The operating instructions are currently missing.
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The interior of the device can be reached by loosening four
socket head cap screws (Allen bolts) at the corners of the front panel,
after which the interior can be extracted from the case shell.
This reveals the interior, as shown in the image below. The device contains
a conventional power supply unit (PSU) and nine printed circuit boards
(PCBs): one at the bottom (the backplane), seven board that are plugged
into the backplane, and one board with wiring behind the front panel.
Two rectifiers are mounted at the bottom,
along with two power transistors.
One large power transistor
is mounted to the side of the chassis for cooling.
The complete logic is built with transistors
and (custom numbered) CMOS ICs
(i.e. no microprocessor).
After checking the date codes on the various components and on the
blue connectors of the plug-in PCBs — the latest date code is 75-06 —
it seems likely that the device was produced in mid or late 1975.
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When we received the device featured here in September 2026, it was in good
cosmetic condition, but it was unknown whether it was operational. After
fitting a regular mains plug to the 220V cable, checking the setting of the
voltage selector, and connecting the device to the mains, it appeared to be
dead. It turned out that the
rightmost mains fuse was blown.
After replacing the fuse, it blew again after approx. 1 second,
which indicates that there is probably a problem
with the PSU. This problem will be investigated further in due course.
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Device Tape reader (Lochstreifenleser) Purpose Reading perforated 5-bit teleprinter tape or 8-bit computer tape Principle Optical Model CL-001 Designator 412.4916.02 Manufacturer Rohde & Schwarz Year 1975 Country Germany Bits 5 (convertable to 8) Baudrates see below Power 115 V or 220 V/AC Dimensions (HWD) 112 × 225 × 300 mm Weight 6114 g
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- External (EXT)
- 12.5
- 25
- 45.45
- 50
- 75
- 100
- 150
- 200
- 300
- 600
- 1200
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Device Shock mount Purpose Absorbing shocks when used in a (moving) vehicle Model KS-007 Manufacturer Rohde & Schwarz Year 1975 Country Germany Dimensions (HWD) 145 × 235 × 300 mm Weight 640 g
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- Günter Hütter, CL-001 tape reader - THANKS !
September 2026.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Sunday 27 September 2026. Last changed: Tuesday, 29 September 2026 - 20:37 CET.
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